I read this article with a combination of shock, horror, dismay and revulsion. How dare these alleged public servants abuse the taxpayers in this manner. You could talk about double-dipping (to be kind) or you could jump right into the cesspool of misconduct and deceit.

I have always maintained that in politics and public service if you have power with no controls, or at the least a transparent reporting and recording system coupled with clear and enforceable guidelines, the system will be abused. I wouldn’t prefer another layer of bureaucrats to administer these blatant misuses of public funds but this should be a priority for the higher levels of the regional executives.

I wish to be very clear not all public servants abuse the system as shown by examples of the authors of this fine piece of investigative journalism.

Tangling with these types of misuse of trust is a very slippery slope but it is one the taxpayers/voters must be knowledgeable about and vote accordingly.

I see two serious problems with Licia Corbella’s column. She feels that churches have been shut out of some of the subsidized wage grants for summer students since they are required to attest to agreeing to “the federal Liberal party’s policy on abortion.”

This isn’t quite true.

What they are required to indicate is that they “respect individual human rights in Canada ... including reproductive rights.” So, they must agree with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 7 of which assures the right to “life, liberty and security of the person.”

While this doesn’t specify overtly a woman’s right to abortion, it was a major factor in the decision in 1988 acquitting Henry Morgentaler of a criminal offence by providing abortions.

It doesn’t appear unfair to me that an organization that can’t affirm agreement with the charter should be unable to obtain government money.

The other problem is that Ms. Corbella conflates this issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s respect for “convicted terrorist Omar Khadr.” This has absolutely nothing to do with the charter issue and only distracts the reader from her main idea.

David Fowler

Wainfleet

Welland streets poorly plowed

It appears with terrible weather, we also get horrendous snowplowing of city streets by the City of Welland.

The only time all the city streets are clear of snow is when we experience a thaw like this. As a resident all I can say is thank God for this January thaw.